Heddle-harness-spacer machine



F. E. BIEARDEN.l

HEDDLE HARNESS SPACER 4MAGHINE. Armcmmu msn :un: 2r. |919.

1,339,313, Patentd May 4, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET l.

Mount F. E. BEABDEN.

HEDDLE HAHNESS SPACER MACHINE. APPLICATION man :uns 21. 1919.

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FRED E. Banani-1n, or capanna, souri-1A caserma) HEDDLE-HARNESS-SPACER MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented llIay 4, 1920.

Application led June 27, 1919. Serial No. 307,016.

To all ywhom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRED E. BEARDEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chesnee, in the county of Spartanburg and State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Heddle-Harness-Spacer Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a harness heddle spacer machine, and more particularly to the class of automatic spreading and positioning machines for loom harness.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a machine of this character, wherein the heddle eyes in a loom harness will he automatically and successively placed in a spacer spring or helically coiled'wire with certainty and accuracy for their proper position to permit the drawing in of the warp threads when the harness is placed within a warp drawing machine of any ordinary well known construction.

Another object ofl the invention is the 'from a consideration of the following deprovision of a machine of this character wherein the spacer spring, or helically coiled wire will be automatically placed'and eX- tended uniformly by novel means as required for the successive placing of heddles of harness in the helical coils of wire within which they will be permanently held, and wherein the helical coils of wire will be automatically and successively moved forward for placing an extension for the purpose of receiving theheddles of harness in the successive and respective coils in order that the heddles may be properly'and permanently placed in position to permit the drawing-in process in a drawing-in machine of any ordinary well known construction.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a machine of this character, wherein the heddle eyes in a harness or heddle are successively operated upon to uniformly space the eyes and position the same in a permanent manner, so that when the harness is placed within a warp drawing in machine the needle for the drawing in of the warp thread when reci rocated mechanically will be assured ov a'true path through the heddle eyes to catch the warp thread for the drawing in operation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a machine of this character, wherein the spacing and positioning mechanism is of novel form to assure accuracy inI Abe he the spacing of the eyes of the heddle and the supports therefor-so as to control the latter as to position, whereby the harness eyes may d with exactness in predetermined position.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a machine of this character wherein the heddle eyes are automatically spaced and held in position, thereby eliminating the usual hand Voperation for this purpose and the spacing and positioning of the heddle eyes will be effected with certainty and accuracy, as well as, if not better and more positive than hand work as ordinarily done.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a machine of this character, which is comparatively simple in construction, automatically operated, very reliable and eiiicient in its operation, strong, durable and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

The invention will be best understood tailed description taken in connection with the accompan ingr drawings, forming a part of this speci cation with a further understanding that while the drawings show a practical form of the invention, the latter is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may be changed and modified so long as such changes and modiiications come within the sco e of the appended claims.

eferring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention, showing the harness mounted therein with certain of the heddle eyes in spaced relation to each other as effected by the spacing and positioning mechanism of the machine.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the machine.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view, showing in detail the spacing and positioning of the heddles of the harness, certain parts of the mechanism being shown partly in section.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the helical screw or spacing worm or screw.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation of the tubular shaft or member containing the wire coil with the guide therein, the tubular shaft or member being partly in section.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view taken longitudinally through the tubular shaft or member.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevation looking toward the opposite ends of the frame of the machine.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the heddle eye support spacing and positioning screws.

Similar reference charaeters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail` A designates generally the frame of the machine` which may be of any suitable form and character and which supports spaced garalilel longitudinally disposed track rails upon which the heddle or harness supporting carriage C travels, the rails B being formed at their inner edges for a major portion of their length with rabbets l() which open through the upper faces thereof and constitute ways for the rabbeted edges 11 of the side bars or rails of the carriage C, so that in this manner the latter is prevented from any lateral displacement in the longitudinal travel thereof in the ways in the track rails B of the supporting 'frame A of the machine.

The top portion of the frame A of the machine is forwardly inclined and also the carriage C supported thereon is likewise forwardly inclined for the convenience of the operator of the machine. Mounted in the side rail of the carriage C at the elevated side thereof are spaced eyes 12 to which are connected coiled retractile springs 13, while mounted in the other side rail of said carriage C are. spaced hooks 14 on which are detachably engaged the eyes of eyebolts 15, the same being fixed in the hedd'le or harness 1G which has also connected thereto the coiled retractile springs 13 and in this manner the heddle or harness 16 is supported in the carriage C in order that it may not be held too rigidly for most efficient operation thereon.

Arranged within the frame A in the lower portion thereof and supported in any suitable manner is a main power or driving shaft 17 which is disposed preferably approximately medially of the frame and extends longitudinally thereof, the said shaft 1T being in this instance formed with pedals 1S for the manual rotation thereof by an operator of the machine. However it is to be understood that the shaft 17 can be mechanically driven through the medium of a motor or other suitable source of power (not shown). On one end of the shaft 1T is fixed a sprocket wheel 19 over which is trained a sprocket chain 20 the same being also trained over a sprocket pinion 21 formed ou and integral with a 22 journaled upon a stub shaft 23 fixed in one end of the frame A near the upper portion thereof. Journaled in suitable bearmutilated toothed gear ings in the frame A at the upper portion thereof below the carriage i is a driven or counter shaft 24 which extends longitudinally of the frame A and has fixed to one end thereof a pinion 25 with which the teeth of the mutilated gear 22 are adapted to mesh. The driven shaft 24 at its opposite end has fixed thereto a sprocket gear 26 over which is trained an endless sprocket chain 2T the lsame being also trained over a sprocket gear 28 fixed to a short shaft 29 disposed longitudinally in the frame A and 'journaled in bearings 30 mounted upon spaced parallel transverse bars 31 and 32 respectively at one end of the frame. IThe short shaft 29 projects at its outer end beyond the adjacent end of the frame and has fixed thereto a pinion meshing with an adjustable idle gear 34 supported upon a hanger suitably adjustably mounted on the frame A? the gear 34 being in meshing engagement with a pinion 36 fixed to the outer end of a feed screw shaft S7 which is suitably journaled in the frame A beneath the carriage C longitudinally of said frame A, the carriage C being fitted with a depending connecting element 38 to engage in the thread of the feed screw shaft 37, so that on the rotation of the latter the carriage C will be advanced upon the track rails l() longitudinally Iof the machine from one end of the frame A to the other thereof.

Fixed to the shaft 29 is a` gear 39 with which meshes a companion gear 40 fixed to one end of a stub shaft 41 which is arranged parallel with the short shaft 29 and mounted in the bearing 30 therefor. suitably jou-rnaled in the frame A opposite the short shaft 29 is a stub shaft 42 having fixed to the outer end thereof a pinion 43 with which is adapted to mesh the teeth of the mutilated gear 22 in the rotation thereof.

(in the inner ends of the short shaft 29 and the stub shafts 41 and 42 are mounted detachable coupling elements 44 for the detachable fastening of the spacer and positioning mechanism hereinafter fully described.

The spacer and positioning mechanism comprises a coiled spacer spring container and feeder tube 45 which is removably mounted in the carriage C with one end fastened in the coupling 44 on the short shaft 29, the tube 45 being preferably of the length shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. This tube 45 is adapted to receive therein the helical coils of wire Vof a length suicient to extend the width of the lease or series of warps and between each two helices lof each coil one or both of the cords constituting the harness eye support is laid. Mounted within the tube 45 near the inner end' thereof is a cross feed pin 46 which is adapted to engage between the coils of the spring 47 as is clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, so that on the rotation of the tube 45 in the working of the machine t e spring 47 will be fed from the tube'in a uniformi manner for a Vpurpose presently described. 'Y Y Detachably connected to the stub shaft 41 through the medium of the coupling 44 on the inner end thereof is a driving rod 48 which is arranged arallel with the tube 45 and is coextensive therewith. The rod 48 on the inner end thereof carries a heddle feed screwr or Worm 49 which serves to act upon the cord supporting the heddle eyes for the spacing of the said cord in successive order during the travelV of rthe carriage C in one direction. The worm or screw 49 is formed with a tapered threaded end portion 50 and a relatively heavy opposite screw end 51 having the required pitch to assure the requisite spacing of the cords of the heddle or harness for the separation of the heddle eyes in the operation of the machine. Intermediate the tapered threaded end 50 and the screvs7 end 51 of the Worm or screw 49 is a grooved hub portion 5 2 which directsthe cords Asupportin the'heddle eye from the tapered threade end 50 into the spaces between the threads of the screw end 51 of said Worm or screw 49 on the rotation thereof for the engagement of the cords of the heddle or harness with the heddle spacing Worm hereinafter fully described.

Detachably connecting the tube 45 and the rod 48 in their spaced parallel relation to each other is a spacer yoke or clip 53 which forms a bearing for said tube and rod and prevents either the tube'or rod from sagging one relative to the other Within the heddle or harness during the operation of the machine.

The heddle placin Worm comprises a helical screw or auger ike head 54 which is mounted upon the inner end of a rod 55 detachably journaled in a bearing 56 on the carriage C and having its outer end detachably fastened in the coupling 44 of the stub shaft 42, the rod 55 being in alinement with the feed tube 45 WhileV the heddle placing Worm constituted by the helical screwV or augerlike head 54 is located adjacent to the open delivery end of the tube 45 for engagement of the coils of the spring 47 with the said screw or head 54 as is clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

In the operation of the machine the feed tube 45 and the rods 48 and 55 are normally detached from the couplings 44 of the short shaft 29 and the stub shafts 41V and'42 :and the heddle or harness 16 is out of the'carriage C of the machine. Now the heddle or harness 16 is hung upon the carriage C through the medium of the eye-bolts or members 15 which are engaged with the hooks 14 and the springs 13 which are aiso engaged with the heddle or harness 16. Thereafter the 'tube 45 and rod 48 are trained between the :cords supporting the heddle eyes in the heddle or harnessV 16 directly above the said heddle eyes and thereafter the tube'45 and the rod 48 are coupled throu Vh the medium of the couplings 44 with t e short shaft 29 and the stub shaft 41 respectively. It is of course understood that the helical spring 47 has been previously placed within the tube 45 and a predetermined number of the coils of said spring 47 are extended through the delivery endroit' the tube 45 to be exposed without the same. The rod 55 carrying the spacer Worm constituted by the screw or augerlike head 54 is mounted in the bearing 56 on the carriage C and in the coupling 44 on the stub shaft 42, it being understood of course that the rod 55 is Hrmly positioned so that the screw 54 is next to the delivery end of the feedtube 45. Furthermore it is to be understood that the carriage C is arranged at the left hand end of the frame A of the machine. After the tube 45 and the rods 48 and 55 have been properly positioned the spring 47 at the exposed coils thereof will be acted upon by the screw or head 54 to open up the coils for the reception of the supporting cords of the heddle eyes in the heddle or harness 16 as is clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The supporting cords of the heddle eyes in the heddle or harness 16 next to the placing Worm are engaged by the threads 50 and the screw 51 of the spacing Worm so as to open the supporting cords of the heddle to space the heddle eyes in the manner shown in F ig. 3 of the drawings and these supporting cords when completely open with respect to each other Will be automatically taken up by the placing worm constituted by the screw 54 to place the supporting cords for each heddle eye successively in the coils of the spacer spring 47, the latter being automatically served from the tube 45 when the carriage C is traveling upon the track rails B ofthe frame A. The mutilated gear 22serve's as a timing lgear to assure the intermittent rotation of the tube 45 and rods 48 and 55, so that it Will be apparent that the supporting cords of the heddle eyes will be success'vely engaged in the coils of the spring 47 an the heddle eyes supports will be positively and accurately spaced apart in successive order to space the harness eye for the proper placing of the harness eye sup erts in the coils of the Wire. The carriage moves from left rtor'right in the frame Aof Vthe mach-ine and its progression is ell'ected with the intermittent turning of the tube 45 and rods 48 and 55 controlled by the timing gear 22 hereinbefore described. i

It is obvious that when advancing Aon the track rails B the spacing and placing screws or Worms are operating for the successive spacing of the supporting cords of the heddle eyes and the carriage C is the placing ofthe said supporting cords in the coils oi tire spring 47, which is bein automatically delivered from the eed tue l5 and this operation is continuous until all of the supporting cords for the respective heddle eyes have been spaced and placed within the coils of the spring 47, whereby the harness eyes will be held with exactness in predetermined position and this being' eiected Vautomatically, thereby eliminates the spacing of the heddle eyes by the usual hand method. The operation is continued until all oi the heddle eyes have been properly spaced and placed in the sprin 47 of the heddle or harness. Thereafter the rod 55 carrying the placing worm 54 is detached from the coupling 44 on the stub shaft 42 and this rod 55 is withdrawn from the spring 47 and a placer cord is inserted in its place, whereupon the heddle or harness thus prepared is removed from the carriage C for the positioning of said heddle or harness in the Warp drawing machine of the ordinary Well known construction.

The machine as shown and described covers the operation of placing heddles in a helical coiled Wire of the left hand type only Whereas with reversed operation of rods 45 and 55, the right hand type of Wire will be operated on.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and manner of operation oi the machine will be clearly understood and therefore a more extended explanation has been omitted.

Changes, variations and modifications are contemplated in the invention Within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages. As heretofore stated the machine can be operated from mechanical power in lieu of the manual operation thereof.

Should any of the supporting cords for the heddle eyes be twisted Ior disarranged in the heddle or harness, when the said cords move from the screw 51 onto the hub 52 of the spacing Worm or screvv the operator of the machine can readily observe the twisted character of the cords and through the instrumentality of a suitable tool the ringer of the operator can readily straighten the cord to assure accuracy in the successive spacing of the supporting cord to properly place the same for the exactness in the separation ot' the heddle eyes of the harness.

W'hat is claimed is:

l. A machine of the character described comprising a helical screw or worm, a helically coiled Wire Jfeed member, means active upon the helically coiled Wire Jfor opening the coils successively, and means for spreading the supporting cords of the heddle eyes of the harness and positioning the same relative to the first named means for the automatic placing of the eye supporting cords successively thereby in the helices of the coiled wire.

2. A machine of the character described comprising a normally contracted extensible spacing memberadapted to engage the harness eye support, aY spacing member adapted to engage the harness eye support Jfor successively spreading the same apart, means for feeding the normally contracted extensible spacing member, and a placing member active upon the contracted extensible spacing member and placing the harness eye support therein.

3. A machine of the character described comprising a normally contracted extensible spacing member adapted to engage the harness eye support, a spacing member adapted to engage the harness Veye support for successively spreading the same apart, means for feeding the normally contracted extensible spacing meber, and a placing member active upon the contracted extensible spacing member and placing the harness eye support therein, and a movable carriage for a loom harness.

4, A machine of the character described comprising a normally contracted extensible spacing member adapted to engage the harness eye support, a spacing member adapted to engage the harness eye support Jfor successively spreading the same apart, means for feeding the normally contracted extensible spacing member, a placing member active upon the contracted extensible spacing member `and placing the harness eye support therein, a movable carriage for a loom harness, and a mechanism Jfor actuating the Jfeed means for the contracted extensible spacing member and the spacing and placing means.

5. A spacing and positioning machine for loom harness comprising a support having a track, a carriage movable over the track, a coiled spring, a feeder removably supported in the carriage and adapted to contain the spring, means for mounting a harness upon the carriage, means for spacing the harness support and removably mounted on the carriage, and means for spreading the coils ot the spuug when fed Jfrom the Jfeeder and placing the harness eye support successively in the coils and detachably mounted upon the carriage.

6. A spacing and positioning machine for loom harness comprising a support having a track, a carriage movable over the track. a coiled spring feeder removably supported in the carriage and adapted to contain a helical spring, means for mounting a harness upon the carriage, means for spacing the harness support and removably mounted on the carriage, and means for spreading the coils of the spring when fed Jfrom the tubular feeder and placing the harness eye support successively in the coils and detachably mounted upon the carriage, and mechanism for synchronousl operating the feeder and the spreading an placing means.

7. A spacing and positioning machine for loom harness comprlsing a support having a track, a carriage movable over the track, a coiled spring feeder removably supported in the carriage and adapted to contain a helical spring, means for mounting a harness upon the carriage, means for spacin the harness support and removably mounte on the carriage, and means for s reading the coils of the s ring when fed rom the tubular feeder ang placin the harness e e support successively in t e coils and etachably mounted upon the carriage, mechanism for synchronously operating the feeder and the spreading and placing means, and feed means cooperating with the last named mechanism for imparting movement to the carriage.

In testimony whereof, I afx my signature hereto.

FRED E. BEARDEN. 

